August 2016: warm and dry. Warmest since 2004, driest since 2003!

Overall this was a warm August, with a good deal of dry and sunny weather. There were periods of more changeable weather, but this often moved away quickly to be replaced with more warmth. There was nothing exceptional, and no heatwave, but temperatures were consistently above average. Due to generally high pressure, it was a dry month too!

July 2016: average temperatures, but dry: the driest since 2011

This was a fairly average July, in terms on temperature. There was roughly an equal measure of hot and cooler weather, with the temperature reaching the 30s on just one day. It was, however, a dry month - the driest July, in fact, since 2011. This more than made up for the very wet June that started our summer off!

June 2016 - warmest since 2010 and wettest since 2012.

June was a deceptively warm month - in fact, it was the warmest for 6 years overall. This was mainly due to warm nights; the month's nights were, on average, the warmest on record for the month. In spite of the 'warmth', days were often cloudy and rainfall was the highest for four years.

May 2016: a warm month, especially early on. Average rainfall.

May 2016 turned out to be a pleasant month on the whole, with a good deal of warm and often sunny weather. The warmest weather - even hot - occurred early on in the month, but there were still some warm spells later on, interspersed with cooler ones. The nights were often cool, even later in the month, but we managed to escape an air frost at least. Overall this was the equal warmest May since 2008, and the driest since 2012.

April 2016: rather cold, with frequent frost and a wintry end. Average rainfall.

April 2016 was a rather cold month, and spring was 'on hold' at times. There was some warmth, although the high of 17.2C was the lowest 'April high' since 2001 (15.8C). Frost was frequent, and it turned especially wintry towards the end of the month with hail, sleet and snow showers and sharp frosts.With 22 days of rain, this was the second highest frequency for this month - even though the rainfall total overall was close to normal.

March 2016: rather cold and rather wet. A dry spell mid-month.

This was a rather cold month - in fact, relative to average, this was the coldest month since September. It was wet at times, especially at the start and end of the month, but there was a long dry spell in the middle. Nights were often chilly and frost was frequent.Overall, this was the coldest March for three years and the wettest for 8 years.

February 2016 - rather mild with average rainfall. Coolest month of this winter.

February was a mild winter month - the mildest since 2014 - with temperatures slightly above the average. However, it was the coldest month of winter 2015-16, with some sharp frosts around mid month and at the month's end, too.Rainfall was close to average and it was often breezy. So overall, this wasn't an especially wintry month at all - in fact there were signs of spring all over the place, due to the exceptional mildness of the winter as a whole.

January 2016 - the mildest since 2008, but rainfall close to average

After such an incredibly mild December, it seemed likely that January would be colder. And indeed it was - a whole 4C colder - yet this month was still mild when compared with the average. It was the mildest January for 8 years!The mildness was broken around mid month, when a rather colder spell arrived with frosts and some snow for a time. This didn't last long, and the mild air quickly returned. Rainfall was close to average, in spite if 21 days raining...

December 2015 - the warmest on record!

This was a remarkably mild December. So mild, in fact, that it broke all records. The mean of 9.6C was higher than November (and that was the 2nd mildest on record), and also higher than a typical April would be! No air frosts were recorded, and there was a total absence of any wintry weather. It was often dull, wet and windy. The temperatures peaked at 15.2C on the 18th - the warmest December day on record. Only 3 ground frosts were recorded - compare that with 11 in October! An amazing month where spring arrived...

November 2015: average rainfall, but exceptionally mild - mildest since 1994

An exceptionally mild November with temperatures generally 3C above average. Temperatures peaked at 17.3C on the 10th, and the mean of 9.1C made this the 2nd warmest November on record - behind 9.7C in 1994. There was a brief taste of winter in the 3rd week, when there was frost and snow falling briefly around the 22nd. Rainfall was, overall, spot on average - although with 24 days of rain falling, it may have seemed much wetter!

October 2015: coolest since 2012 and driest since 2007.

A slightly milder than average October, but overall this was cooler than recently and the coolest for three years. There was a fair amount of sunny weather, especially midmonth, and it was dry too.Nights were chilly: 11 ground frosts was the highest occurrence since 2003. Overall, a mostly pleasant autumn month with a distinct lack of gales and rain.

September 2015: dry, sunny but cool. The coolest since 1994.

It may seem surprising, but September 2015 turned out to be the coolest for 21 years. There was a good deal of dry, often warm weather - but not very warm days were recorded, and nights were particularly cold. In fact, the average night minimum of 7.3C was the coolest on record for the month. This really pulled the overall mean down. However, it was pleasant with a very settled spell during the second half of the month. Mean temperature: 12.6C (-1.3 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 17.8C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 7.3C.Highest temperature: 22.6C on the 12th.Lowest temperature: 1.1C on the 26th.Grass minimum temperature: -1.9C on the 26th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 3.Rainfall total: 24.2mm (40% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 6.7mm on the 11th.Number of rain days: 11.Sunshine total: 142.5hrs (139%).Sunniest day: 9.2hrs on 6th.Maximum wind gust: 26mph on the 5th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1018.2mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 92%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 48%.

August 2015: rather cool, and wet too. The wettest August since 2010

ThAnother rather disappointing summer month, with few warm spells, and hot days few and far between. Only two days exceeded 25C, and nights were often chilly - the low of 3.5C on the 16th being low enough for a ground frost. the warmest spell was in the second week, ending with a very wet day on the 13th. It was also a rather wet August: the wettest since 2010.

July 2015: Coolest since 2011 with average rainfall

In spite of a short, but intense, heatwave at the very start of the month (with the hottest July day since 2006), this was overall the coolest July since 2011. Apart from the 1st, which reached 33.1C, there were only a handful of very warm days and nights were especially chilly. The 31st saw a low of 2.5C, the coldest July temperature on record here, with the first ever July ground frost recorded too!Rainfall was average.

June 2015 - the coolest for 3 years, and the driest for 7!

This was a rather cool June, the coolest since 2012. It turned briefly hot at the month's end. Nights were especially cold, and the mean night minimum of 8.6C was the lowest since 1996. Three ground frosts were recorded, the equal highest on record for June here. Rainfall was below average too - the driest since 2008.

May 2015: the coolest since 2013 and rather wet

A rather cool May, with some chilly nights. Days were not especially warm - in fact, not one day reached 21C (70F), and the mean daily max of 15.3C was the lowest for May here since 1996. The lowest absolute max of 20.2C was the lowest such figure since 1994. It was a rather changeable month with rainfall above average.

April 2015: warm and dry, especially mid-month. Not as warm as in 2014...

April 2014 turned out to be warm and dry, much like last year. However, April 2014 was warmer and drier! Nevertheless, this April proved to be a lovely spring month.After a wet and chilly start, the middle slice of the month was very dry and often sunny. Days were warm, but nights were cold with frequent frosts. The lowest temperature of the month (-2.5C) was recorded as late as the 27th!Changeable and cooler weather returned by the month's end.

March 2015: coldest since 2013, wettest since 2008.

Another very average month in terms of temperature. Nothing severely cold or exceptionally warm - with a typical number of night frosts. It was often dry, although there were some wet spells in the 2nd and last weeks of the month.This lifted the rainfall to rather above the average.

February 2015: rather cold, but dry. Driest since 2012.

After last year's wet and windy winter weather, this year has been quite different. February was similar to January in many respects: often dry and frosty, but no significantly severe or snowy spells.The end of the month saw a wetter, windier and milder spell.

January 2015 - close to average! Coldest for two years, wettest for four...

January 2015 was a fairly uneventful month in many ways - temperatures close to average, and rainfall slightly below. There was a small amount of snow, and a typical frequency of frost. However, in a spell of mild weather early on, the temperatures managed an incredible 15.6C on the 9th - this was in fact the warmest January day on record here!The monthly statistics tell a fuller picture:

December 2014: coldest for two years. Slightly warmer and drier than average.

December was yet another warmer-than-average month in 2014, albeit slight. There was some chilly weather with frost early and late in the month, with some snow lying from the evening of Boxing day until 31st. However, there was also some very mild weather - on the 18th, a high of 13.6C was recorded, the warmest December day since 2007. In spite of some wet periods, overall rainfall was a little below usual...

November 2014: a wet, mild month - the mildest since 2011.

November turned out to be a mild month, continuing the trend this year. It was the mildest since 2011. There was little in the way of frost, and where it did occur, it was mostly slight. Rainfall was well above average, with the total much higher than last year - but similar to 2012.

This was yet another warm month, continuing the trend for 2014 (apart from August) which has so far made this the warmest year on record. In spite of the consistent warmth, there were no exceptionally high temperatures - the highest recorded being 20.3C on the 1st. But the 31st was almost as warm, remarkable for so late in the month. It was the warmest Halloween on record! Very little ground frost occurred, and rainfall was about average for the month!

September 2014 - a warm and dry autumn month. Warmest since 2011.

September turned out to be an extension of summer, which was a welcome surprise after the dismal August! Although temperatures were never exceptionally high, and no day exceeded 25C (the high being 23.6C), it was consistently warm - apart from a few chilly nights. It was also very dry. If it hadn't have been for the downpours on the 29th, it would have been the driest month of any name on record. There were just 3 rain days - the equal lowest for any month!

August 2014: rather damp, dull and cool. The coolest August for 21 years!

August was disappointing. After a warm start to the month, with temperatures in the 20s, it cooled off significantly as pressure remained mostly low. There were periods of wet weather, which kept the temperatures down as well. All in all, rainfall was slightly above average, but with 22 rain days this was the most occurrence on record for the month, emphasising the dampness. With a mean of 15.2C, this was the coolest August since 1993 (which averaged 14.1C).

July 2014: warm, dry and sunny. But not as hot as 2013...

July 2014 was a warm, sunny and dry summer month. However, it wasn't quite as warm as July 2013; nevertheless, we still recorded 11 days of 25C or more, and all but two days reached or exceeded 21C. Rainfall wass on the dry side, with an absence of any very torrential rain (as experienced at the end of July last year). The warmest weather peaked from 20th-26th, when every day reached or exceeded 25C. Sunshine was also above average!

June 2014: Warm, dry and sunny. Warmest June since 2010.

June was a pleasant summer month, with rainfall below average and temperatures above average. There was no exceptional heat - indeed, temperatures did not exceed 25C on any day - but there was consistent warmth. There was a dry spell from 11th-25th, with a slightly cooler and wetter spell at the start and end of the month. A good start to the summer, if you like sunshine and warmth...Mean temperature: 15.4C (+0.7 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 20.8C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 10.1C.Highest temperature: 24.8C on the 23rd.Lowest temperature: 3.0C on the 6th.Grass minimum temperature: 0.1C on the 6th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 0.Rainfall total: 47.2mm (77% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 17.5mm on the 27th.Number of rain days: 13.Sunshine total: 230.9hrs (125% of average).Sunniest day: 12.4hrs on 11th.Maximum wind gust: 26mph on the 16th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1018.8mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 81%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 63%.

May 2014 - a warm month. The 5th consecutive this year! Wettest May since 2007

This was another warm month - the 5th consecutive one this year. Temperatures were above average consistently, though there were a few chillier days and nights at the start. The warmest weather occurred around the middle of the month with a taste of summer!It was, however, also a wet month due to the changeable nature of the weather. In fact, the 20 days of rain was the equal highest on record for the month. The total of 86.1mm was the most in May since 2007 (94mm). Mean temperature: 12.4C (+1.0 of average)Mean daily maximum temperature: 17.1C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 7.9C.Highest temperature: 24.6C on the 19th.Lowest temperature: -2.3C on the 3rd.Grass minimum temperature: -5.9C on the 3rd.Number of air frosts: 1.Number of ground frosts: 2.Rainfall total: 86.1mm (160% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 13.6mm on the 8th.Number of rain days: 20.Sunshine total: 16.1hrs (89% of average).Sunniest day: 12.0hrs on 17th.Maximum wind gust: 37mph on the 10th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1014.5mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 83%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 69%.

April 2014 - warm and dry!

This was another warm spring month, but it was much drier than March had been. Having said that, this April's 33mm was much higher than the 6mm recorded last April! Temperatures were consistently above average, with no wintry weather to speak of at all. Even frost was infrequent and slight.There was a long dry spell from 8th-18th, with wetter weather returning for a time later in the month.Overall, this was the warmest April since the exceptionally warm 2011!Mean temperature: 10.5C (+2.3 of average)Mean daily maximum temperature: 15.8C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 5.8C.Highest temperature: 19.7C on the 21st.Lowest temperature: -1.4C on the 15th.Grass minimum temperature: -6.0C on the 19th.Number of air frosts: 2.Number of ground frosts: 6.Rainfall total: 33.1mm (63% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 11.0mm on the 25th.Number of rain days: 13.Sunshine total: 145.4hrs (99% of average).Sunniest day: 10.7hrs on 66th.Maximum wind gust: 51mph on the 20th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1014.8mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 85%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 73%.

March 2014 - very mild and a little on the wet side. A taste of spring!

March 2014 could not have been more different from last year's wintry month. We had a definite taste of spring with no falling snow, and only limited night frosts. Indeed, virtually every day broke into double figures; even the coldest day of the month still managed to reach 8C! It was particularly warm in the second and third weeks, with a temperature of 18.4C recorded on the 9th in long sunny spells. This was still some way short of the record set in 2012, when March warmth reached 21.6C! Overall, this was the mildest March since 2012 and also the driest since 2012, even though the rainfall total was a little above average. Mean temperature: 7.7C (+1.4 of average)Mean daily maximum temperature: 12.6C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 2.8C.Highest temperature: 18.4C on the 9th.Lowest temperature: -3.9C on the 24th.Grass minimum temperature: -7.4C on the 24th.Number of air frosts: 7.Number of ground frosts: 19.Rainfall total: 56.1mm (116% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 13.4mm on the 2nd.Number of rain days: 12.Sunshine total: 155.0hrs (137% of average).Sunniest day: 5.9hrs on 26th.Maximum wind gust: 40mph on the 20th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1015.7mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 90%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 60%.

February 2014: wettest since 2007 and mildest since 2011.

February was a very mild winter month, with temperatures consistently above average - although there were no exceptionally mild days individually. It was the persistence of mild weather that made the month so un-wintry. Just one night recorded an air frost - the lowest occurrence on record for the month. Even the coldest day of the month still managed to rise to 6.2C. It was also a wet month, and often stormy. Rainfall was above average, though no where near as wet as January. Gusts were close to 50mph on several days, with the highest being 54mph on the 7th - equal to February 2005. Mean temperature: 6.1C (+1.9 of average)Mean daily maximum temperature: 8.3C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 3.2C.Highest temperature: 11.9C on the 20th.Lowest temperature: -2.0C on the 10th.Grass minimum temperature: -7.0C on the 10th.Number of air frosts: 1.Number of ground frosts: 18.Rainfall total: 59.4mm (133% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 5.9mm on the 16th.Number of rain days: 19.Sunshine total: 64.0hrs (83% of average).Sunniest day: 5.9hrs on 26th.Maximum wind gust: 54mph on the 7th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 995.4mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 90%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 59%.

January 2014: wettest on record. Frequent downpours, but a mild winter month; the warmest for 6 years!

This was another mild winter month, with the trend continuing from December. The weather gave us more wet and often windy weather, and much of the rain was persistent. It's not hard to see why the grey, wet weather seemed endless as there were 27 days with rainfall recorded! Only one of these days contained any snow, and even this did not settle. Frost was limited and generally slight. So with the absence of any wintry weather, the heavy rains meant that the already saturated ground flooded frequently with waterlogged fields and roads commonplace. Overall, it was the wettest January on record - and the mildest since 2008. Mean temperature: 5.2C (+1.4 of average)Mean daily maximum temperature: 8.1C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 2.3C.Highest temperature: 11.8C on the 5th.Lowest temperature: -3.2C on the 20th.Grass minimum temperature: -7.1C on the 12th.Number of air frosts: 7.Number of ground frosts: 16.Rainfall total: 117.1mm (195% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 26.0mm on the 8th.Number of rain days: 27.Sunshine total: 39.3hrs (64% of average).Sunniest day: 4.4hrs on 20th.Maximum wind gust: 44mph on the 1st.Mean air pressure at 0900: 999.8mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 95%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 60%.

December 2013: very mild - the mildest since 2006. Rainfall near-average.

After all the newspaper headlines predicting an imminently cold winter, the first official month of the winter season turned out to be very mild! In fact, this was the warmest December for 7 years, and the month was even slightly warmer than November! Indeed, there were 14 days that exceeded 10C - and very little in the way of frost. In fact, there was only one air frost, and with a low of -0.1C this was the highest 'absolute minimum' in December on record! Rainfall was frequent, with low pressure after low pressure steaming in off the Atlantic - there were 20 days with rain. However, the amount of rainfall for the month was pretty close to where it should be. Winds gusts to 55mph on the 5th and 27th, and several other days recorded gusts close to this, emphasising the unsettled nature of the weather. The only wintry precipitation was on the 18th, when sleet and hail fell for a short time in the early evening. So a very mild winter month overall...Mean temperature: 6.0C (+1.8 of average)Mean daily maximum temperature: 9.2C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 2.8C.Highest temperature: 13.3C on the 16th.Lowest temperature: -0.1C on the 26th.Grass minimum temperature: -5.3C on the 11th.Number of air frosts: 1.Number of ground frosts: 22.Rainfall total: 60.4mm (89% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 16.9mm on the 5th.Number of rain days: 20.Sunshine total: 32.1hrs.Sunniest day: 4.0hrs on 9th.Maximum wind gust: 55mph 5th and 27th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1011.8mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 92%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 65%.

November 2013: rather chilly, with below-average rainfall

November turned out to be rather cold, and rather dry overall. It was the coldest November since 2010, though November that year became exceptionally cold towards the end. There were no exceptionally warm days - in fact the high of 13.4C on the 6th, though mild, was the lowest 'absolute maximum' for November on record for this station! There were a number of frosty nights, and ground frost occurrence was the most since 2005. The statistics are below:Mean temperature: 5.6C (-0.6 of average)Mean daily maximum temperature: 9.3C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 1.8C.Highest temperature: 13.4C on the 6th.Lowest temperature: -4.3C on the 23rd.Grass minimum temperature: -8.2 on the 23rd.Number of air frosts: 8.Number of ground frosts: 19.Rainfall total: 50.5mm (81% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 10.6mm on the 5th.Number of rain days: 12.Sunshine total: 45.5hrs.Sunniest day: 5.2hrs on 10th.Maximum wind gust: 44mph on 2nd.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1017.2mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 95%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 61%.

October 2013: Very mild, and the wettest on record.

October turned out to be a very mild month, with temperatures well above average - but not the exceptional warmth of 2011. Having said that, there were some noteworthy points: 3 ground frosts were the least in October since 2006 (2), and nights were often warm. In fact, on average, the nights were about the same temperature as in September! Rainfall was frequent, and with 23 rain days this was the most for the month since 1998 (27). the eventual total was also the most recorded for the month on records spanning back to 1991. With frequent rain, there was a lot of cloud, and in spite of warmer-than-average temperatures, sunshine levels were well below normal!Mean temperature: 12.3C (+2.3 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 15.3C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 9.2C.Highest temperature: 20.6C on the 8th.Lowest temperature: 3.0C on the 30th.Grass minimum temperature: -1.6C on the 16th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 3.Rainfall total: 123.9mm (177% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 17.3mm on the 5th.Number of rain days: 23.Sunshine total: 49.1hrs (46% of average).Sunniest day: 6.2hrs on 6th.Maximum wind gust: 36mph on 11th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1010.0mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 95%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 74%.

September 2013 - average temperatures and rather dry.

September 2013 broke no records - in fact, in terms of temperature, it was about as close to average as you could expect. Even the high of 26.0C in the first week was about right for the month's high. Some nights were chilly, and 2 ground frosts was the most for the month since 2007 (5). Rainfall was below average - the total of 42.3mm was around 70% of the norm, and only 13 days recorded rainfall. Most of the rain that fell was fairly light. The month's figures are below:Mean temperature: 13.8C (-0.1 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 18.3C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 9.2C.Highest temperature: 26.0C on the 4th.Lowest temperature: 3.1C on the 15th.Grass minimum temperature: -1.1C on the 15th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 2.Rainfall total: 42.3mm (70% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 11.8mm on the 5th.Number of rain days: 13.Sunshine total: 108.8hrs (79% of average).Sunniest day: 8.7hrs on 5th.Maximum wind gust: 36mph on 16th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1015.9mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 89%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 74%.

August 2013: the warmest since 2004, and driest since 2007. Overall, a pleasant summer month!

This was a very pleasant summer month, and a change from recent Augusts. The overall mean temperature of 17.0C (which takes into account day and night) was the highest since 2004. Although there was only one brief heatwave at the start of the month, when the summer's temperatures peaked at 31.1C (the hottest August day since 2003), temperatures were consistently above average with continued gentle warmth. Even the 'coldest' day of the month, the 31st, still managed to reach a high of 18.4C! Rainfall was below average, and only fell on 11 days - most of which was overnight - so getting out and about was good during the summer holidays. Overall, summer 2013 (June, July and August) was the warmest since 2006 which made a very welcome change to recent disappointing years! August's statistics are below...

July 2013: A hot summer month - the warmest July since 2006! Very wet overall, but a long dry spell too...

At last - a month with temperatures above average! This was the first month with temperatures coming in above average for 12 months - and temperatures were well above usual, giving a real taste of summer. It was briefly cooler for the first three days, but from the 4th onwards temperatures remained at least in the 20s. The high of 30.4C was achieved twice, on the 13th and 22nd, and although this was similar to the maximum in 2009, the month was a whole was the warmest July for 7 years. Rainfall was very low for much of the month - with no rain at all from 3rd-21st (19 consecutive days of no measurable rain). However, thundery outbreaks on the 22nd/23rd, and 27th was so extreme that the month ended up well above average for rainfall! The total of 61.2mm on the 27th equated to what is usually expected for the whole month, and was the wettest 24hrs on 23 years of records here for ANY month. Overall, this was still a very pleasant summer month with plenty of sunshine!Mean temperature: 18.8C (+2.0 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 25.0C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 12.5C.Highest temperature: 30.4C on the 13th and 22nd.Lowest temperature: 6.9C on the 2nd.Grass minimum temperature: 4.2C on the 2nd.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 0.Rainfall total: 106.0mm (171% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 61.2mm on the 27th.Number of rain days: 8.Sunshine total: 254.9hrs (136% of average).Sunniest day: 12.0hrs on 4th.Maximum wind gust: 29mph on 13th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1021.7mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 78%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 53%.

June 2013 - drier than last June, with 15% less rain than usual. Another rather cool month...

Overall this was a rather cool June, especially at night. There were a number of chilly nights, and on the 4th the temperature fell to 3.3C first thing, with the grass temperature dipping to -0.1C. There were some warm days, with mid-month becoming very warm for a time, but these spells were short-lived. The highest temperature was 24.9C on the 19th.Rainfall was a lot less than last year, with the overall total below normal by some margin.

May 2013: Coldest since 1996 and wettest since 2007. Another disappointing spring month!

After what was an exceptionally cold March and then a chilly April, May has also turned out colder than average - making this the 5th consecutive colder-than-average month. It was also the coldest May since 1996, with frequent ground frosts and even two air frosts. In fact, the mercury fell to -2.5C early on the 1st, making this the coldest May temperature on record here. It was disappointing in that there were only rare warm days, and nights were chilly. It was also wet with rainfall much higher than the very dry April we had this year - the total of 71.6mm being the most in May since 2007 (94mm). Mean temperature: 10.8C (-0.7 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 15.9C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 5.6C.Highest temperature: 23.4C on the 7th.Lowest temperature: -2.5C on the 1st.Grass minimum temperature: -7.9C on the 1st.Number of air frosts: 2.Number of ground frosts: 10.Rainfall total: 71.6mm (133% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 20.1mm on the 14th.Number of rain days: 20.Sunshine total: 177.0hrs (98% of average).Sunniest day: 11.3hrs on 6th.Maximum wind gust: 47mph on 24th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1012.3mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 77%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 65%.

April 2013: a rather cold month overall, especially at night. Very dry - the 2nd driest on record

After the cold of March 2013, April took a while to get going. There were frequent overnight frosts, and some especially sharp ones in the first week. The mercury dropped to -5.0C on 6th, equaling the lowest recorded April temperature at this station. From around mid-month, the average daily temperature started to rise above 6C and temperatures in the afternoons were significantly higher, heralding the late arrival of spring this year. By the 14th, temperatures had crept above 18C, and then peaked at 18.8C on the 23rd. The month ended on a chilly note again, with frosts returning.It was also a very dry month - 2nd driest to 2011 - and a stark contrast to the exceptionally wet 2012.Mean temperature: 7.6C (-0.6 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 12.9C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 2.4C.Highest temperature: 18.8C on the 23rd.Lowest temperature: -5.0C on the 6th.Grass minimum temperature: -10.1C on the 2nd.Number of air frosts: 9.Number of ground frosts: 18.Rainfall total: 6.3mm (12% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 1.3mm on the 27th.Number of rain days: 7.Sunshine total: 157.1hrs (107% of average).Sunniest day: 8.5hrs on 23rd.Maximum wind gust: 47mph on 17th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1015.1mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 73%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 66%.

March 2013: coldest since 1962, locally since 1883, with frequent frost and snow

March 2013 has been a remarkable month. Not only has it been the coldest March in over 20-years of records here in Rosliston, but as a nation it's been the coldest since 1962. The winter that followed that March was the coldest of the 20th Century!In Central England, you have to go back to 1883 to find a colder March, however!What's made March 2013 all the more remarkable is that it's been colder than all three winter months December, January and February - in a winter that was below average anyway. The persistent easterly winds meant that snow and frost were frequent visitors, and caused disruption at times. The lowest temperature for the month was reached as late as 31st, falling to -6.3C first thing on Easter Day - the coldest so far in 2013! This time last year we'd just had a remarkable warm March with temperatures as high as 21.6C - this year the highest was a mere 11.3C. March can often fall into the 'spring' category and give us some pleasant days - this year, the month was firmly locked in winter, as the figures below show:Mean temperature: 2.7C (-3.5 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 6.0C.Mean daily minimum temperature: -0.7C.Highest temperature: 11.3C on the 5th.Lowest temperature: -6.3C on the 31st.Grass minimum temperature: -10.7C on the 31st.Number of air frosts: 18.Number of ground frosts: 22.Rainfall total: 56.3mm (117% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 13.3mm on the 15th.Number of rain days: 14.Sunshine total: 104.0hrs (92% of average).Sunniest day: 8.5hrs on 31st.Maximum wind gust: 40mph on 25th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1009.7mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 86%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 76%.

February 2013: a cold winter month with frequent frost and some snow - the coldest February for 3 years. No severely cold weather, however!

This was a cold month, with temperatures consistently below average. The mean of 3.0C was the lowest since 2010 (2.6C). However, the temperatures never fell to severely cold levels, the lowest temperature recorded being -3.9C on the 19th. However, the absolute maximum of 9.9C on the 3rd was the lowest such figure for the month on over 20 years of local records.From the 15th the was virtually no measurable rain, and this is reflected in the overall monthly total which was much lower than recent months!Mean temperature: 3.0C (-1.2 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 5.9C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 0.2C.Highest temperature: 9.9C on the 3rd.Lowest temperature: -3.9C on the 19th.Grass minimum temperature: -7.7C on the 19th.Number of air frosts: 14.Number of ground frosts: 21.Rainfall total: 41.5mm (93% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 13.8mm on the 10th.Number of rain days: 11.Sunshine total: 63.0hrs (82% of average).Sunniest day: 7.2hrs on 17th.Maximum wind gust: 35mph on 4th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1018.5mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 87%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 74%.

January 2013: Mild start and end, but mostly cold with some snow. Coldest January since 2010.

After a mild start, it soon turned much colder with winds from the east or north-east becoming dominant. This brought snowfall around the middle of the month, with a number of days struggling to rise above freezing. The 16th only managed a maximum of -1.6C - the coldest January day since 1997. Snow depths reached 12cm - the deepest here since February 2009. Overnight frosts were frequent (though no exceptionally cold nights occurred) and the 18 air frosts this month was the most recorded in January since 1997. Overall rainfall/precipitation was slightly below average, although temporary local flooding was an issue after the thaw on the 26th.The month ended very mild, with a temperature of 13.5C recorded on the 29th - the warmest January day since 2007.Monthly figures:

December 2012: a cold start, then milder and very unsettled. The wettest December on record at this station!

The month began cold with a number of widespread frosts, though nothing was exceptional. The chilly start soon gave way to a much milder, and more mobile pattern from mid-month onwards. The 12th only managed a maximum of -0.8C, and then lowest temperature of -6.0C overnight into the 13th. There was plenty of rain, due to endless areas of low pressure moving in off the Atlantic. Indeed, the rainfall total of 125.5mm was the most recorded for the month of December here in Rosliston, and this took the annual total to just over 870mm - the wettest year on record too.Temperatures for the month as a whole were average, the colder start being balanced by the milder second half. Mean temperature: 4.2C (-0.0 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 7.0C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 1.4C.Highest temperature: 12.6 C on the 22nd.Lowest temperature: -6.0 C on the 13th.Grass minimum temperature: -9.2C on the 13th.Number of air frosts: 10.Number of ground frosts: 16.Rainfall total: 125.5mm (185% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 16.2mm on the 19th.Number of rain days: 20.Sunshine total: 29.8hrs (49% of average).Sunniest day: 3.7hrs on 7th.Maximum wind gust: 33mph on 29th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1006.6mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 93%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 66%.

November 2012: average temperatures overall, but the wettest November since 2002, and third wettest on record.

In terms of temperature, it was a very average month - almost spot on in fact at 6.1C. There were some mild days, some colder ones and some frosty nights to boot. It was still the coldest since 2010, but this was more due to the fact that last year was very mild, and 2010 was very cold!The taking point was the wet weather, which really took hold in the second half of the month. In terms of rain days it wasn't exceptional, but the total amount was one and a half times the month's average. Coupled with the fact that the ground was already saturated from the wet summer, it didn't take much to cause flooding. This was the worst flooding locally since 2000.The rainfall total of 98.6mm was the highest for this month since 2002 (103.3mm) and the third wettest - the wettest of all being 2000 when 107.7mm fell. The monthly figures are below: Mean temperature: 6.1C (-0.1 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 9.2C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 3.0C.Highest temperature: 13.7 C on the 20th.Lowest temperature: -3.4 C on the 30th.Grass minimum temperature: -6.8C on the 30th.Number of air frosts: 7.Number of ground frosts: 15.Rainfall total: 98.6mm (158% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 27.3mm on the 24th.Number of rain days: 16.Sunshine total: 48.8hrs (69% of average).Sunniest day: 5.8hrs on 5th.Maximum wind gust: 39mph on 22nd.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1008.6mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 93%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 66%.

October 2012: rather cold - the coldest since 2003. Rainfall rather below average.

October 2012 was a fairly changeable month, with an absence of any lengthy settled, warm spells. Having said that, rainfall amounts were mostly small - and in spite of rain falling on 18 days, the total of 54.4mm was only 77% of normal. Temperatures were consistently below average, particularly by day. The highest reading of 16.1C was the lowest such figure since 1992, and is a stark contrast to the 28.7C recorded in October 2011. The monthly figures are below:Mean Temperature: 9.2C (-0.8C of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 12.9C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 5.5C.Highest temperature: 16.1 C on the 2nd.Lowest temperature: -0.9 C on the 14th.Grass minimum temperature: -3.9C on the 14th & 27th.Number of air frosts: 2.Number of ground frosts: 10.Rainfall total: 54.4mm (77% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 13.8mm on the 31st.Number of rain days: 18.Sunshine total: 73.3hrs (68% of average).Sunniest day: 4.9hrs on 14th.Maximum wind gust: 31mph on the 16th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1010.3mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 93%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 61%.

September: dry start, then wetter later. Overall the coolest September since 2001!

The month opened very warm and summery, with temperatures well above average. It was also a very dry spell for a time. However, the weather soon cooled down after mid-month and it became very chilly at times, especially at night. In fact, it was the coolest September for 11 years overall. The low of 0.6C on 22nd was the lowest on record for the month, too!After the dry start, the weather turned more unsettled and much wetter with showers or longer spells of rain.

August 2012: average temperatures, average rainfall.

In many respects, this was a very 'average' month. Never any extreme heat, but daytime temperatures generally comfortably warm apart from a few cooler days. Nights mostly mild too, although a blast of much cooler air on the 30th meant that under clear skies that night temperatures plummeted. So much so, that the low early on the 31st was 2.5C - the coldest August temperature on record for Rosliston! Rainfall was virtually spot on average for August, and this meant a the exceptionally wet weather from earlier in the summer had halted. However, it may still have seemed miserable at times - it rained on 19 days, and the sunshine total for the month was only 76% so there was a fair amount of cloud. So all in all, it was average....but far from exciting!Mean Temperature: 16.8C (+0.4C of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 21.5C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 12.2C.Highest temperature: 26.6 C on the 10th.Lowest temperature: 2.5 C on the 31st..Grass minimum temperature: 0.1C on the 31st..Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 0..Rainfall total: 63.7mm (100% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 11.4mm on the 15th.Number of rain days: 19.Sunshine total: 138.1hrs (76% of average).Sunniest day: 9.8hrs on 9th.Maximum wind gust: 26mph on the 27th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1013.9mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 89%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 76%.

July: wet and cool. A brief hot spell!

This was yet another disappointingly cool summer month. The temperatures for July were consistently below average, though there was a brief hot spell towards the month's end when temperatures rose sharply. In fact, the high of 28.7C on the 24th was the hottest in July since 2009 (30.5C). However, these sorts of temperatures were very much the exception!Rainfall was well above average too, though this wasn't as wet as 2007 or 2009, when as much as 137.2mm was recorded in the month.Statistics are below:Mean Temperature: 16.0C (-0.8C of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 20.3C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 11.7C.Highest temperature: 28.7 C on the 24th.Lowest temperature: 7.1 C on the 12th.Grass minimum temperature: 3.2C on the 12th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 0..Rainfall total: 101.9mm (165% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 25.2mm on the 13th.Number of rain days: 19.Sunshine total: 169.6hrs (90% of average).Sunniest day: 11.2hrs on 24th.Maximum wind gust: 21mph on the 1st and 18th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1013.5mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 87%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 76%.

June 2012: rather cool and very wet. Coolest since 1999 and wettest since 2007.

June was a very disappointing summer month. In fact, the warmest day only managed 24.4C - the lowest 'absolute maximum' for June since 1997. As a whole, with a mean of 14.1C, it was the coolest June since 1999.In spite of national reports saying this was the wettest June on record, here in Rosliston 2007 was wetter! Nevertheless, it still exceeded twice the normal amount of rainfall and it rained on 24 days!

May 2012: A dry month, and mostly cold - but a week of hot weather at the end of the month.

This was a month in two distinct sections: up to the 20th it was very much on the cold side, with temperatures averaging just 9.6C. However, the 21st-31st averaged 17.3C, largely due to the fact that a hot spell occurred in this last week when temperatures peaked at 27.6C. In spite of such chilly weather for much of the month (the 3rd and 5th were no warmer than 8.5C and 8.9C respectively), the hot weather at the end lifted the month's mean significantly. After a wet April, this month was much drier with only just over half the usual amount for the month. No air frosts were recorded in the month (though we came close with a low of +0.1C on the 5th), but 7 ground frosts occurred.

April 2012: A cold month, and very wet!

After what was a very warm and dry March, April couldn't have been more different. It was a cold month - the mean of 7.4C the lowest since April 2001 - and crucially, it was colder than March! There were a number of frosty nights, and daytime temperatures were well below average on the whole.Rainfall, on the other hand, was well above average - in fact, almost double the norm. The total of 102.1mm here was the highest since 2000 (123.9mm), though some areas to the south had even more. It has helped the drought situation temporarily, but the last 12 months' rainfall is still well below usual at 82%. It will take many more wet weeks to make up the deficit.

March 2012 - dry and very mild overall. Some frosty nights, but exceptional warmth in the last week.

The dry theme continued this month, with yet more warnings of drought conditions. Rainfall was again well below average due to the dominance of high pressure. However, the real talking point was the month's mildness - with really exceptional warmth in the last week.With high pressure, clear skies often dominate, and through the month this meant several frosty nights - though never severe. In the last week, a spell of sunny and clear weather saw very remarkable conditions develop up and down the UK, with temperatures (in spite of chilly nights) more typical of June and July. The 26th-28th all saw temperatures exceeding 20C, beating the previous March record in Rosliston of 18.9C. The 28th managed an incredible 21.6C, the new record. The overall mean for the month of 8.2C was the highest since 1997 and the 2nd highest on record.

February 2012: very dry with some stark temperature contrasts...

This was a month of big contrasts: although the mean temperature of 4.1C was average for the month, it hides the fact that we had two records broken at both ends of the scale.The first half of the month was very wintry, with hard frosts and some snow. The snow depth reached 12cm on the 4th/5th, and the temperature fell as low as -9.5C - the lowest on record at this site for the month of February. The mean temperature for the first two weeks was -0.2C. By the end of the month, spring had arrived and temperatures reached an incredibly warm 17.8C on the 23rd, smashing the previous February record of 16.9C. Much of the month was dominated by high pressure, hence the dry weather - the orientation of which made a direct impacts as to how warm or cold it was! Rainfall was less than half the average, and it was the driest February since 2008 (21.8mm).Mean Temperature: 4.1C (-0.1 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 7.6C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 0.5C.Highest temperature: 17.8C on the 23rd.Lowest temperature: -9.5C on the 4th.Grass minimum temperature: -11.9C on the 4th.Number of air frosts: 14.Number of ground frosts: 18.Rainfall total: 23.4mm (44% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 12.1mm on the 4th.Number of rain days: 8.Sunshine total: 72.7hrs.Sunniest day: 7.4hrs on 1st.Maximum wind gust: 37mph on the 18th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1029.7mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 90%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 72%.

January 2012: A mild month with no snow and little frost.The mildest January since 2008.

A dominance of south-westerly winds meant temperatures were generally above average throughout this month, with some frosty nights restricted to mid-month and the last few days. As many as 14 days reached 10C or more, and many garden plants started to push through the ground.No snow was recorded, and rainfall was higher than in previous Januaries. In fact it was the wettest since 2008, though that year was very much wetter still!

December 2011: mildest since 2006 and wettest since 2003.

_A far cry from December 2010, this December was very much milder. A whole seven degrees warmer, in fact! The month was dominated by moist, mild south-westerly winds with low pressure systems mostly centred to the north of the UK. This ensured temperatures were frequently above average, with only brief north-westerly incursions giving colder conditions. The absolute min of -2.3C was the joint highest (with 2006) on record. Christmas was very mild, with 13.0C recorded on Boxing Day.Rainfall was close to normal, but was the wettest month of the year and the wettest December since 2003. The year as a whole was the 2nd warmest on record, in spite of the coolest summer for 18 years in some places! It was also an incredibly dry year...December's statistics, meanwhile, are below:

November 2011: Exceptionally mild but cloudy- the 2nd warmest November on record, behind 1994. Remaining very dry again...

_This was yet another mild month - the warmest November since 1994, and the 2nd warmest on record. There were no exceptionally warm days (even last year had a warmer start!), but the consistency of the mildness was incredible. The coldest day still managed 8.4C, and no night fell lower than -0.5C. Many days reached or exceeded 10C and this meant the plants were still growing and lawns in the village cut. High pressure to the south was a frequent reason for the mildness, and this also meant the dry spell continued. Unless we get a substantial increase in rain over the winter and spring, nextsummer could be a severe drought!Overall, this month contributed to the 2nd warmest autumn on record, behind 2006. This takes into account all three autumn months September, October and November combined. Mean Temperature: 9.0 (+2.9 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 11.9C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 6.1C.Highest temperature: 15.7C on the 13th.Lowest temperature: -0.5C on the 7th.Grass minimum temperature: -3.7C on the 7th.Number of air frosts: 1.Number of ground frosts: 5. Rainfall total: 36.0mm (56% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 8.1mm on the 2nd.Number of rain days: 16.Sunshine total: 33.3hrs.Sunniest day: 5.7hrs on 6th.Maximum wind gust: 38mph on the 27th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1017.4mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 94%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 79%.

October 2011: record heat to start, and continuing warm throughout. Warmest October since 2005 overall, and driest since 2007.

This was a remarkable October. The month opened with a spectacular heatwave, and temperatures reached 28.7C - even July couldn't manage that. This was one of the hottest days of the whole year, and the heat continued for another two days! There were also some very warm nights: the 3rd and 11th never fell below 16.1C - the warmest overnight temperature for this month on record here. Overall the month was the warmest October since 2005 (which averaged 12.9C) and the driest since 2007 (which recorded 24.4mm). There were a few chilly nights, in spite of the warmth, with a few ground frosts recorded, though these were slight.

September 2011: warm and dry overall, with record breaking heat at the end of the month.

After a somewhat unremarkable summer, September turned out to be dry and warm. It opened with a couple of chilly nights, but most nights were balmy and more akin to August. In fact, the overnight into the 10th temperatures never fell lower than 17.5C - the warmest night of the year, and the warmest September night on record. The month ended spectacularly, with unusually high temperatures for so late in the season. It peaked on the 30th when temperatures managed to reach 28.9C, the hottest temperature in September locally on record. The heat continued onto October.Overall, the mean of 15.7C was the highest since 2006 and rainfall was again below average by about a third. Rainfall levels for the year continue to be worryingly low!

August 2011: average temperatures. Mostly dry, but rainfall near average by the month's end.

This was an unspectacular summer month. Temperatures were close to normal overall, and after a dry spell, the rainfall reached near normal values. It was quite cloudy at times, so sunshine was never abundant either. Winds were not particularly strong through the month, but there were some chilly nights at times.Summer 2011 as a whole (June to August) averaged 16.2C here - that's the lowest summer figure since 1998. It was also the driest summer since 2000. August's figures alone are below:

July 2011 - rather dry and rather cool, especially at night.

This was a rather cool July - the coolest since 2007 overall. Although there were no really hot days, daytime temperatures were generally near where they should be for July; it was the cool nights that brought down the monthly mean. In fact, there were twelve nights that dipped below 10C, and the month's mean minimum temperature of 10.2C was the lowest on record here for July! It was also a rather dry month, continuing this year's very dry spell. The total rainfall amounted to 39.2mm, the lowest figure for July since 2000 (35.3mm). The monthly statistics are set out below:Mean Temperature: 15.9C (-0.8C of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 21.6C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 10.2C.Highest temperature: 26.0C on the 31st.Lowest temperature: 4.9C on the 2nd.Grass minimum temperature: 1.5C on the 2nd.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 0. Rainfall total: 39.2mm (85% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 8.3mm on the 6th.Number of rain days: 13.Sunshine total: 195.6hrs.Sunniest day: 10.7hrs on 25th.Maximum wind gust: 32mph on the 17th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1013.6mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 76%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 65%.

June 2011: warm days but cool nights. Rainfall slightly below normal.

The month started and ended hot, and there were sill a number of warm days in between. However, the month was notable for its chilly nights - dipping to 1.5C on the 12th giving a ground frost! In fact, the mean daily minimum temperature of 8.9c was the lowest for June since 1996. When the heat returned in the last week, temperatures peaked at 29.2C giving the hottest June temperature since 2005. Even so, the month's mean of 14.5C was the lowest for June since 2008.Rainfall was again rather below normal, though not exceptionally so for June. It's the fact that the year as a whole so far has only seen about half its usual rainfall that is exceptional! The month's overall statistics are below:

May 2011: another warm month, especially early on. Rainfall a little closer to normal.

May 2011 was an odd month in many ways. Whilst it was a warm month - temperatures were around a degree above normal - it was only 0.1C warmer than April (which was exceptionally warm!). There were also no extremely warm or cold days - in fact, the highest temperature only reached 23.7C which is the lowest extreme max for this month on record. There were some cold nights with ground frost at times: early on the 4th there was an air frost, with temperatures falling to -1.9C - the 2nd lowest reading for May on record (-2.1C was logged just last year). The month's overall warmth still meant, however, than many plants were flowering a few weeks earlier than usual.At least there was some relief for the gardens: rainfall was very close to normal, but the deficit of the past months is still significant.

April 2011: Exceptionally warm, exceptionally dry and very sunny. An early taste of summer!

April 2011 was not really a spring month at all - its warmth, more like that of summer, was quite incredible. Temperatures were consistently above normal, frequently well-above, peaking around Easter when temperatures were higher than last August. All the temperatures recorded this month were the highest on record - and the month's overall mean of 12.3C was more than a degree higher than April 2007 (11.0), which held the previous record. There was not one single air frost, though there were a few chilly nights early in the month which gave ground frost. Snow and hail was also absent.The other characteristic of the month was how dry it was: just 4.4mm was recorded all month here, just 8% of average. This is easily the driest of ANY month here, again beating the previous April record from 2007 (9.0mm). When we consider how dry March was too, this spring has been remarkable. The month's statistics give a broader picture...Mean Temperature: 12.4C (+4.7C of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 18.4C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 6.3C.Highest temperature: 26.0C on the 23rd.Lowest temperature: 1.3C on the 13th.Grass minimum temperature: -2.0C on the 13th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 6. Rainfall total: Wettest 24hrs: 2.6mm on the 3rd.Number of rain days: 3.Sunshine total: 170.4hrs.Sunniest day: 9.8hrs on the 8th.Maximum wind gust: 35mph on the 11th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1020.1mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 81%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 45%.

March 2011: Warm days, but some cold nights. Exceptionally dry with a distinct lack of rainfall!

March was an odd month: the nights were colder than they were in February, yet there was lots of warmth on most days. The average daily maximum temperature of 11.7C was the highest in March since 2003, and the high of 18.3C on 23rd and 24th was the highest reading for the month since 2005, when it reached 18.9C. There was more frost than in February, with some sharp frosts at times however!The month's main talking point was its very low rainfall: this was by far the driest on local records, and the 2nd driest of any month - equal with September 1996, which also only recorded 8.7mm. The dry trend of past month's means that the year's total so far is only half the expected rainfall for the Jan-Mar period. If the rest of spring continues this theme, we could be looking at a drought this summer!Mean Temperature: 6.7C (+0.4 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 11.7C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 1.7C.Highest temperature: 18.3C on the 23rd and 24th.Lowest temperature: -4.6C on the 8th.Grass minimum temperature: -8.2C on 19th.Number of air frosts: 8.Number of ground frosts: 20.Rainfall total: 8.7mm (16% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 3.3mm on the 30th.Number of rain days: 5.Sunshine total: 114.3hrs.Sunniest day: 8.2hrs on 24th.Maximum wind gust: 44mph on the 10th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1023.2mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 89%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 64%.

February 2011: Very mild but dull. The mildest February since 2002, with rainfall slightly below normal.

After the bitter December, and rather cold January, February brought very much warmer conditions. In fact, this turned out to be the mildest February since 2002 overall. Many days reached double figures, and frost was virtually non-existent: only 2 air frosts were recorded, the lowest on record for the month. This was reflected in the high night-time temperatures. Rainfall was a little below normal, continuing the trend of dry winter weather. Snow was also virtually non existent - the only observed snow was sleet, very briefly, first thing on the 21st.The month's statistics are below: Mean Temperature: 6.4C (+2.2 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 9.1C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 3.7C.Highest temperature: 14.1C on the 24th.Lowest temperature: -4.5C on the 1st.Grass minimum temperature: -7.5C on 1st.Number of air frosts: 2.Number of ground frosts: 12.Rainfall total: 46.2mm (89% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 10.0mm on the 18th.Number of rain days: 18.Sunshine total: 39.1hrs.Sunniest day: 6.5hrs on 20th.Maximum wind gust: 33mph on the 8th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1013.2mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 94%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 83%.

January 2011: rather cold generally, but very mild midmonth. The driest January since 2006, and only 2 days of snow falling.

After the coldest December since 1890, it would have been incredible if January had turned out as severe. As it happened, January was still a rather cold month with temperatures a little below usual. However, it was the mildest since 2008 (though January 2008 was exceptionally mild with a mean of 6.3C).With frequent high pressure, the month was a dry one, with only about half the usual rainfall total falling. This made it the driest January since 2006. In spite of the cold periods, only two days of snow falling were recorded. The mid-month period became very mild for a time, too. The month's overall figures are outlined below:

December 2010 - bitterly cold but very dry. The coldest by far on my records, and coldest through Central England since 1890...

December 2010 will be remembered for a very long time for its incredible cold. It was a month of Victorian severity, and the coldest December across Central England since 1890. Many records were broken here in Rosliston, too. The mean temperature, mean max and mean min temperatures were all the lowest for any month in the past 20 years some 6 degrees below usual. The 6th was the coldest day of any month, only rising to -5.5C at best, and the minimum of -11.9C on Christmas Day was the coldest for December on these records. As many as 10 days failed to reach 0C, and a further 2 days rose to exactly 0.0C. The number of air frosts and ground frosts were both new December records too.The severely cold weather was due to blocking areas of high pressure to the north or east, and this resulted in winds being generally calmer than usual. The highest wind speed recorded was 29mph - again, the lowest on record. Generally high pressure also meant that it was dry: with 26.6mm it was the driest December since 2004, which recorded 17.2mm. There were, of course, several days of snow too. The deepest recorded was 10cm on the 3rd - and 16 days saw snow lying at 0900, with 10 days of snow falling. Quite a month! The month's figures are set out below...Mean Temperature: -1.5C (-5.8 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 1.7C.Mean daily minimum temperature: -4.6C.Highest temperature: 7.9 on the 11th.Lowest temperature: -11.9C on the 25th.Grass minimum temperature: -15.9C on 3rd.Number of air frosts: 24.Number of ground frosts: 26.Rainfall total: 26.6mm (37% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 8.6mm on the 27th.Number of rain days: 11.Sunshine total: 26.6hrs.Sunniest day: 4.0hrs on 25th.Maximum wind gust: 29mph on 11th and 16th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1016.1mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 96%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 81%.

November 2010: very mild start, but severly cold end. Coldest November since 1993 overall, but driest since 2005.

A month of contrasts is an understatement! The month began on a very mild note - temperatures peaked at 16.7C on the 4th, the 3rd highest on record for this station. The following night didn't fall below 12.4C - more typical of July. It turned briefly milder again around midmonth, then got progressively colder - with severly cold weather at the month's end, with some snow. Clear skies gave some hard overnight frosts, with an incredible low of -12.0C first thing on the 28th. What makes this remarkable is the fact that this is the lowest temperature for ANY month on 20 years of records here! Historically, it's possibly the coldest November night in the area since 1904, when -15C was reported.The month was also generally on the dry side, with rainfall the lowest since 2005. Mean Temperature: 4.5C (-1.6 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 7.4C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 1.5C.Highest temperature: 16.7 on 4th.Lowest temperature: -12.0C on the 28th.Grass minimum temperature: -15.0C on 28th.Number of air frosts: 12.Number of ground frosts: 16.Rainfall total: 47.2mm (73% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 13.5mm on the 8th.Number of rain days: 18.Sunshine total: 49.0hrs.Sunniest day: 4.8hrs on 15th.Maximum wind gust: 31mph on 1st..Mean air pressure at 0900: 1006.5mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 93%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 60%.

October 2010: Warm start and end, but frosty nights in the third week. Rainfall close to normal.

October was a month of contrasts - in spite of temperatures and rainfall being very close to normal overall. It was a wet start, but most of the first half of the monrht was warm with temperatures above usual. It cooled down significantly with frosty nights and chilly days by te third week: the low of -3.4C on the 25th was the coldest October temperature since 2003. It warmed up again by they end of the month.

September 2010: Rather wet and generally warm.

September was unspectacular: it was the coolest since 2008, in spite of it being warmer than average, and the wettest since 2008. Although the month opened with some warm days, much of the weather was unsettled with periods of showers or rain. The warmest day only managed 22.8C, so there was no real Indian summer, yet temperatures continued on the generally warm side - especially at night. However, there were a couple of chilly nights: the lowest air temperature was 1.9C on the 25th, giving a touch of ground frost (grass min -2.1C). The maximum temperature the previous day (11.7C) gave the coldest September day since 1994! A severe thunderstorm later on the 25th gave some torrential rain with hail - the total rainfall amounting to 32.5mm, the wettest September day since the same year. The month's statistics are set out below:Mean Temperature: 14.0C (+0.5 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 18.4C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 9.6C.Highest temperature: 22.8C on 1st.Lowest temperature: 1.9 on the 25th.Grass minimum temperature: -2.1C on 25th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 1.Rainfall total: 77.5mm (145% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 32.5mm on the 23rd.Number of rain days: 17.Sunshine total: 65.0hrs.Sunniest day: 7.2hrs on 1st.Maximum wind gust: 31mph on 6th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1014.7mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 89%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 63%.

August 2010: Rather dull, the wettest since 2006 - and coolest since 1992.

If you thought this August has been disappointing, then you'd be right. There have been numerous cool and wet days, with temperatures often below average. On the 27th, the best we could manage was 13.1C - the coolest August day on record. The highest temperature, on the 16th, only managed 24.3C (though in 2008 the high was a measly 23.7C) and about two thirds of the days were wet. Pressure rose towards the end of the month, bringing a fine spell with sunshine - but chilly, clear nights. The 31st saw the lowest air temperature on record here for August, dipping to 3.1C. Grass temperatures fell just below 0C, giving a ground frost! Overall, we've just endured the chilliest August for 18 years... and in spite of all this, the warmth earlier on this summer means that the season as a whole was in fact the warmest and driest since 2006.

July 2010 - warmest and driest since 2006, but often dull and cloudy.

Although it may not seem like it, July 2010 was a warm and dry one. Temperatures have been generally slightly above the average, helped along by some fairly warm and muggy nights later in the month. It only rained on 13 days - the 22nd seeing the most, with torrential rain, hail and thunder dumping 19.2mm within an hour. The next village, Coton-in-the-Elms, reported 49.1mm from the same storm, so this was extremely localised. It was also a rather cloudy month, and this gave a rather disappointing impression as a whole - especially after the sunny and warm conditions earlier in the summer. So although it was the warmest and driest July for 4 years, there was no heatwave and the temperature only reached 25C+ on 4 days. It just goes to show how poor the last three July's have been!Mean Temperature: 17.3 (+0.6 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 22.0C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 12.6C.Highest temperature: 26.9C on 19th.Lowest temperature: 6.5C on the 6th.Grass minimum temperature: 2.2C on 6th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 0.Rainfall total: 43.5mm (94% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 19.2mm on the 22nd.Number of rain days: 13Sunshine total: 139.3hrs.Sunniest day: 11.0hrs on 3rd.Maximum wind gust: 32mph on 15th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1014.6mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 81%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 83%.

June 2010 - warm and dry. The warmest June since 2006.

After the rather late spring, which brought several chilly spells, this was a warm summer month with numerous sunny days and temperatures above average on the whole. Nights were rather chilly, though, and a late ground frost was recorded as late as the 20th. There were a number of hot days, with ten days reaching or exceeding 25C - yet we didn't quite manage the hottest temperature reached in the hot weekend at the end of May! Neverthe less, the mean temperature was the highest in June since 2006 (16.7C). Rainfall continued the dry trend, with only ten rain days in total. If it hadn't been for a very wet day on the 13th, the month would have seen exceptionally low rainfall for the second month in a row. June's statictics are below:Mean Temperature: 15.8C (+1.5 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 22.1C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 9.5C.Highest temperature: 27.8C on 27th.Lowest temperature: 4.6C on the 17th and 20th.Grass minimum temperature: -0.4C on 20th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 1.Rainfall total: 40.8mm (72% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 20.7mm on the 13th.Number of rain days: 10Sunshine total: 221.9hrsSunniest day: 13.3hrs on 22nd.Maximum wind gust: 26mph on 28th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1018.6mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 76%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 53%.

May 2010 - coolest since 1996, and driest since 1998.

May 2010 was a month of extremes. The first ten days or so were very cold, with temperatures averaging lower than they had in April. In fact, this was the coldest start to May on my records. The minimum of -2.1C on 13th was also the coldest May night at this station. It warmed up significantly after mid-month, and the third week saw a taste of summer. Six days exceeded 20C, with a high of 28.0C on the 23rd - the hottest day recorded in May in Rosliston. The mean of 11.1C was the lowest in May since 1996, which averaged 8.9C. A dominance of high pressure meant that the month was also exceptionally dry - the driest since 1998, when only 12.6mm fell. The rest of the figures for the month are below:

April 2010: Rather warm by day, but chilly nights. A very dry month!

After a chilly start to the month with some rain or showers, the weather settled down. It was often warm with temperaures above average on several days, but clear skies at night meant frequent ground frosts and some air frosts too. High pressure kept things dry, with no measurable rain from 7th-24th, effectively giving drought conditions. It cooled down a little at the month's end with some rain or showers. Overall, this was the coolest April since only 2008, but the cold nights meant the mean minimum temperature was the lowest in April since 2001. A warm month overall though with above-average temperatures - and rainfall was the lowest for the month since 2007, although that year a mere 9.0mm fell all month! April 2010's statistics are below:

March 2010: very cold start, then much milder. Rather dry overall.

The month began on a very cold, wintry note with some harsh frosts. The first ten days averaged just 2.6C - the coldest start to March on my records. The temperature dipped to -8.0C first thing on the 8th, and -12.2C on the grass - the lowest such readings for this month on record. However, from mid-month onwards temperatures became much milder - and almost springlike at times. There was a sting in the month's tail, with a return to much colder weather on the 31st. Overall, the month's mean temperature was about average. It was also rather dry; the first significant rain fell on the 12th, and even with a wetter end to the month the total was only around three quarters of usual. How did the month as a whole fair...?

February 2010: Coldest since 1996, with near-average rainfall.

This was another cold winter month - the third consecutive below-average month. In was in fact the coldest February for 14 years - yet there was no severe weather, just persistent cold and a virtual absence of anything mild. There were frequent frosts and some snowfall around midmonth. Rainfall was about average.A third cold month meant the winter mean temperature here was just 2.1C - the lowest for the winter period since 1978-9. February's summary is below:Mean Temperature: 2.6C (-1.6 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 5.4C.Mean daily minimum temperature: -0.4C.Highest temperature: 10.1C on 24th.Lowest temperature: -4.0C on the 22nd.Grass minimum temperature: -9.9C on 11th.Number of air frosts: 15.Number of ground frosts: 22.Rainfall total: 48.4mm (93% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 7.2mm on the 18th.Maximum snow depth: 7cm on the 21st.Number of rain days: 20.Number of days with sleet or snow falling: 6.Number of days with over 50% snow cover: 5.Sunshine total: 57.1hrsSunniest day: 5.5hrs on the 16th.Maximum wind gust: 33mph on the 26th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1004.0mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 91%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 81%.

January 2010: The coldest January since 1987!

After so many mild Januaries in the past two decades, 2010 delivered a much colder one that we had been getting used to. January 2009 was rather cold, but this month turned out even colder - the coldest since 1987 locally. The first half was colder than the second half, with temperatures averaging well below 0C for this period, and some spells of snow. The second half saw some less cold weather, but even the warmest day only managed 9.1C. Rainfall was close to the January average. The full list of statistics are below:

Mean Temperature: 1.0C (-2.7 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 3.5C.Mean daily minimum temperature: -1.5C.Highest temperature: 9.1C on 18th.Lowest temperature: -11.3C on the 7th.Grass minimum temperature: -16.9C on 7th.Number of air frosts: 16.Number of ground frosts: 24.Rainfall total: 50.9mm (89% of average).Wettest 24hrs: 18.1mm on the 22nd.Maximum snow depth: 5cm on the 14th.Number of rain days: 15.Number of days with sleet or snow falling: 11.Number of days with over 50% snow cover: 10.Sunshine total: 53.9hrsSunniest day: 6.4hrs on the 30th.Maximum wind gust: 32mph on the 27th.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1016.1mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 92%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 69%.

December 2009 - average rainfall but the coldest since 1996!

Apart from a brief mild spell during the second week of the month, December 2009 was certainly cold. Frosts were frequent and often hard: 16 air frosts was the most since 2003, and 25 ground frosts was the highest occurence on record (jointly with 2008 and 1999). There was little snow, much of any observed flakes falling as sleet, but the mean temperature of 2.6C made this the coldest December for 13 years. The cold was certainly a shock to the system after such a mild November! Although rainfall was very close to normal, the 22 rain days was the highest such number for the month since 1999. The rest of the month's figures are below:

November 2009: A rather wet month, but the mildest for 15 years!

After recent reports of November 2009 being the wettest ever recorded, it's important to remember that this figure is a countrywide average. Cumbria and other northern areas have had an incredible amount of rain, which pushed up the UK average for the month. Here in Rosliston it was only the wettest November since 2002. However, 25 rain days was the most for the month on record. It was also a very mild month, with no snow and very limited frost - the lowest temperature was just -1.2C on the 9th, the highest November minimum since 2002. The rest of the month's figures are below:

October 2009: A warm, dry month with much sunshine.

October was notable for its consistent warmth. Temperatures were frequently above the average, and it often felt pleasant in any sunshine. This was especially prominent early in the month and again in the last week, when nights were mild too - yet no single day recorded exceptionally high readings. Overall, it was the warmest October since 2006. There were a few chilly nights, with just one air frost recorded on the morning of the 8th; five ground frosts were recorded too. Rainfall was below average again this month, with most being fairly light and patchy, due to another month dominated by mostly high pressure. Overall, a pleasant autumn month with little wind too - though the gust of 44mph on the 3rd was in fact the highest for the month since 2002, when 51mph was reached. The month's figures are set out below:

September 2009 - warm and very dry

September 2009 was really and extension of summer. It made up for a poor show earlier in the season! Temperatures were on the warm side throughout, and although there were no very warm days, many sunny days made it feel pleasant. This was the warmest September since 2006. More notable was the lack of rain: only 4 days with rainfall recorded was the lowest for any month at this station on 20 years of records! No rain was recorded after the 8th. However, the overall rainfall total of 16mm was not as low as in 1996 and 1997, when 8.7mm and 10.2mm was recorded respectively.Mean Temperature: 14.2C (+0.7 of average).Mean daily maximum temperature: 18.7C.Mean daily minimum temperature: 9.7C.Highest temperature: 23.0C on the 7th and 8th.Lowest temperature: 3.1C on the 27th.Grass minimum temperature: 0.2C on the 27th.Number of air frosts: 0.Number of ground frosts: 0.Rainfall total: 16.0mm (30% of average, and lowest since 1997).Wettest 24hrs: 8.2mm on the 2nd.Number of rain days: 4.Sunshine total: 102.1hrs.Sunniest day: 8.8hrs on the 12th.Maximum wind gust: 41mph on the 3rd.Mean air pressure at 0900: 1022.6mb.Mean humidity at 0900: 83%.Mean cloud cover at 0900: 70%.

August 2009 - reasonably warm with near average rainfall.

August was a darn sight better than July - much drier and fairly warm. In fact, the mean of 16.9C was equal to 2008, and the joint warmest since 2004. However, there was no heatwave and hot days were limited. It was more the consistent warmth that was notable, with 20 days reaching or exceeding 21C (70F) - equal warmest (with 2004) since 2003. There were several warm nights too. The mid-month period was particularly dry - the driest such period since 2003.

July 2009 - mostly rather cool, with exceptionally high rainfall.

This was another disappointing July. Apart from a brief heatwave which opened the month (temperatures on the 1st were the hottest since the record-breaking 2006), most of the month was rather cool. It was also exceptionally wet: there were 23 days of rain, equal to 2007 and the most on record. The rainfall total of 137.2mm did in fact beat that of 2007 (135.5mm), making this the wettest July on record. July's total equates to 296% of normal. The month's figure are set out below..

June 2009 - another warm and wet month, which helped the plants grow...

June got off to a rather slow start. The first half of the month was rather cool at times, with spells of rain or showers, some of which was heavy. The 6th and 7th were also the coolest June days since 1997, only reaching 12.2C and 12.0C respectively. However, the month warmed up siginificantly after mid-month, with very warm or hot conditions in the last week...

May 2009 - warm and wet overall

This May followed the generally warm pattern that many recent Mays have followed. Although average temperatures weren't as high as in 2008, cold weather was pretty scarce. In fact, 2 ground frosts was the least recorded here in May since 1999. The high of 26C on the 29th was the highest for the month since 2005 when 27.5c was logged. It was wet though - particlularly midmonth when there was some heavy rain at times. The month's end was very warm and summery. How do the month's statistics look then....?

April 2009 - mostly very warm and dry

After what seemed like a long and cold winter, April was quite a turn around: dry, warm and sunny. There was a high consistency of above-average temperatures, and April showers were infrequent. Frost was also quite a rarity and sleet or snow didn't fall on a single day. Although it was not as warm or as dry as April 2007 it wasn't far off - in fact, this was still the 2nd warmest April on record at this station. The statistics below speak for themselves...

March 2009 - quite warm and very dry.Often frosty at night.

Apart from the first and last weeks, which were briefly unsettled, the month as a whole contained a lot of dry and often mild weather. There were still some chilly nights, with frost recorded on several occasions. It was the warmest March since only 2007 (mean temperature 7.2C), but the driest since 2003 (20.3mm). So another month of mostly high pressure...

February 2009 - a tale of two halves...

The month began very cold and snowy, with some of the heaviest snowfalls since February 1991. Temperatures were generally low for the first half of the month, with a dominance of cold easterly winds. However, from the 15th it was a lot milder - even very mild at times. The mild eventually outweighed the cold, and the month's mean temperature was spot on average as a result. It was another very dry February, indicating a dominance of high pressure.

Winter 2008-9 had a mean temperature in Rosliston of 3.4C (-0.7 of normal), making it the coldest winter since 1995-6 when the mean was 2.6C. It certainly put a stop to the run of very mild winters we have been used to, and caught a lot of people out. It was still a long way off the severe cold experienced other winters last century, however! Rainfall for the winter reached 129.0mm (71% of average), which is the driest winter total since 2005-6 which had 94.8mm.

January 2009 - how did it fair?

January 2009 was certainly a much more wintry month than we have been used to. The Januaries of 2007 and 2008 were both exceptionally mild with little if any wintry weather at all. But how did the month fair as a whole? Was it colder than average? And did the month's rainfall exceed its usual amount? The Statistics below should give you a good idea:

The opening days of the month were characterised by a cold Continental flow of air, giving a very cold week. In fact, the average temperature for the first ten days was just -0.6C - the coldest such period since 1997. There was some snowfall, though this was mainly light, on the 5th. Frost in this period was severe at times too.

The rest of the month was more mobile, with low pressure dominating. However, the air source was rarely mild, and frost was still logged on several nights. A return to a more continental flow showed signs of returning at the month's end.

The month as a whole was the coldest January for 8 years - though the highest temperature of 10.1C was the lowest such statistic for the month since 1997, when the highest was 9.2C. The lowest minimum temperature of -6.9C was the lowest since 2003 (-7.4C). Overall, the rainfall was on the dry side - though there were some wet spells around the middle of the month, and again in the last week.